Performance of forage tree species under nursery conditions

Abstract

The performance of 60 tree accessions was studied under nursery conditions, with the objective of characterizing forage trees and shrubs and further evaluating the possible variations among species. According to the main component analysis there was a high variability (36%) in the first component and the indicators initial height, stem diameter, height 90 days after planting and pest incidence contributed to it. In addition, a good part of this percentage was also explained by the contribution of diseases (plane CP1-CP3). From the six groups formed, IV and VI (L. longistylus, Schizolobium sp., M. nigra and T. gigantea) showed 63% positive contribution of the variables; while the accessions in group I were the less outstanding. Germination, survival and stem diameter were concluded to have high influence on the development of seedlings in the nursery stage, for which, together with the indicator plant height, they should be taken into consideration to determine the optimum moment of transplantation. L. longistylus, Schizolobium sp., M. nigra and T. gigantea were the most outstanding species regarding the studied characters.